Mike Turzai

Mike Turzai
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office July 12, 2001[1][2]
Preceded by	Jane Orie
Constituency	Part of Allegheny County
Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 4, 2011
Preceded by	Sam Smith
Republican Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office January 6, 2009 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	Dave Argall
Succeeded by	Stan Saylor
Personal details
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lidia Turzai
Residence	Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	University of Notre Dame Duke University

Mike Turzai is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Turzai has represented the 28th legislative district since 2001 and is a member of the Republican Party. He currently serves as the House Majority Leader.

Career

Prior to his House service, Turzai was an attorney in private practice and an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He served on the borough council of Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania as Vice President of that body. He ran for Congress in Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district against incumbent Democrat Ron Klink in 1998, losing 64% to 36%.

Turzai was elected in a special election on June 26, 2001 to replace Jane Orie who was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate.^[3][3][4] He won election to a full term in 2002 and has won re-election in 2004 and 2006.

In 2006, Turzai was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. He initially supported Bill Scranton for Governor.^[5] After Scranton withdrew from the Governor's race and it became clear that Jim Matthews would win the party endorsement for Lieutenant Governor, Turzai withdrew and sought re-election to his House seat.^[5]

After the 2008 elections, Turzai was elected as Minority Whip.^[6] Following the 2010 elections, which saw Republicans regain their House majority, Turzai was elected Majority Leader.

His signature issues are tort reform and welfare reform.^[7]

Personal

Turzai is a graduate of University of Notre Dame and the Duke University School of Law. He and his wife reside in Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania with their three sons.

References

1. ^ Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives - 2001-2002". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/185H.pdf. 
2. ^ "Representative Mike Turzai (PA)". Project Vote Smart. 2008. http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=23934. Retrieved 2008-09-12. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "2001 Special Election for the 28th Legislative District". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=119&OfficeID=13. 
4. ^ James O'Toole, Edward G. Robinson III (2001-06-27). "Turzai Easily WIns Orie's House Seat". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SJMNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e3ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3854,3983407&dq=. Retrieved 2008-09-14. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ ^{a b} Margaret Gibbons (2006-02-10). "Matthews to be endorsed by state GOP". The Mercury (Pottstown). http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16101897&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18041&rfi=6. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
6. ^ Brad Bumsted (2008-11-18). "House Democrats hand DeWeese No. 2 slot". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_599146.html. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 
7. ^ "PA Report 100" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc.. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. http://www.webcitation.org/5j0zKOG5a. 

External links

• Media related to Mike Turzai at Wikimedia Commons
• State Representative Mike Turzai official caucus website
• Mike Turzai (R) official PA House website

• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart

Persondata
Name	Turzai, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death